Wu Yaozu whispered, "Bro, that woman in black is looking at me again!"
Qin Ming had sensed it as well. "I told you, that's just your imagination. Do you know how to handle this kind of situation? Just ignore her."
Wu Yaozu glanced at him and mumbled, "Bro, I think you're going to die alone!"
Then he sucked in a breath of fiery twilight and hissed, "Wait, I paid closer attention—why does it seem like she's looking at your back? I take back what I just said."
Wu Yaozu perked up. "Bro, do you know her, but you're deliberately giving her the cold shoulder? Is there some past between you two?"
Little Wu's perception was indeed extraordinarily sharp. Very few people could ever detect figures of Master Wu and Tang Jin's caliber watching from the shadows.
"Let's go!" Qin Ming hurried forward, afraid the boy would spout more nonsense. Having just emerged from a perilous land, whenever the kid latched onto something, he was relentlessly enthusiastic.
Wu Yaozu nodded and followed along, saying, "Could this be the colorful mortal realm my grandmother talked about? Partings and reunions, turning back in a fleeting instant, finding that unchanging gaze from days gone by even amidst a sea of faces... Such an encounter truly surpasses endless days and nights together."
Qin Ming desperately wanted to cover the boy's mouth and hurriedly dragged him into the crowd.
He feared Tang Jin and Master Wu's spiritual awareness was so keen that they could pluck their conversation right out of the surrounding clamor.
"Those two youths have extraordinary perception—they could even sense that?" the purple-eyed crow said, and then, as if hearing something, began to caw with laughter.
Beside it, Tang Jin, whose shapely figure was draped in loose black robes, had already darkened in expression. She muttered, "What are you laughing at? It sounds hideous!"
"Caw, caw, caw! Quite an unexpected encounter indeed."
"Shut up!"
Under the night, Shanhe Academy was packed with people, bustling as if celebrating a festival, with figures moving everywhere.
Qin Ming spotted that scalper crow of sweet sixteen and asked with a smile, "Senior Sister, how are ticket prices now?"
"Soaring like a dragon in the sky!" Sister Crow perched haughtily on a treetop at the fork in the road. Her business was indeed booming as she said, "You two can go ahead and regret it—the price has already doubled."
"For real?" Wu Yaozu's eyes widened. If he had known earlier, he would have stockpiled a few; selling them today would have settled his and Brother Ming's tuition.
Sister Crow showed them the back of her head. "Tickets are hard to come by now. Even I can only supply a few to VIP clients through special channels."
She was very busy, surrounded by people eager to buy tickets.
"Think about it: this is the peak showdown between the final disciple of a quasi-patriarch and a heaven-sent prodigy who swept through eighty-one cities! It has caused a sensation throughout Kunjun City and is known far and wide."
Wu Yaozu rubbed his hands, his eyes fervent. "Sister Crow, I think you could also sell tickets to a sparring match between me and my brother."
Sister Crow rolled her eyes. "Pfft! You two nobodies? Even if you paid people day gold, nobody would come to watch."
Nearby, several ticket buyers nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, brother, not to put you down, but even with two weeks of hype, nobody would show interest."
Wu Yaozu bragged, half-seriously, "Brother, not to boast, but tonight's two famous prodigies? I could pin both of them to the ground and pummel them."
"Brother, you're something else! You really dare to dream. Fine, this old brother will wait for the day I see you in the night papers."
"You kid really dare to talk big! You can brag more than my wheelchair-bound grandpa when he's had too much to drink!" The crowd burst into laughter.
Sister Crow said, "How about you two grit your teeth and buy two tickets to go see just how strong that young patriarch, with his grand ambition to test his sword against the world, truly is? Even if you can't match his cultivation and natural talent, taking advantage of this grand event to learn a bit of his demeanor and presence would still count as an improvement."
Wu Yaozu said, "Am I crazy? Buying tickets to watch two people who might not even be as good as me fight? Impossible! Sister Crow, if you gave us two free tickets, I might consider it."
Sister Crow replied, "Then I'd definitely be the one who's crazy!"
Not far away, a stir arose. As several women walked past, many onlookers began discussing them. The leading woman seemed to have quite a background, and her swaying silhouette was captivating.
Sister Crow whispered, "See that? That's Shanhe Academy's prettiest senior, Liu Hanya. With her astonishing talent and steady rise, she has already caught the eye of an elder from the immortal lands. Her future is boundless! Even she has come to watch this duel. As for you two—whenever you can attract the attention of a fairy-level figure like her, that's when I can sell tickets for you."
"Those are Liu Mingzhe and Tang Jun, who haven't shown themselves in ages! Even they've ended their seclusion to watch the battle!"
"Hey, isn't that Luo Jiqing, the prized flower of neighboring Feixian Academy? The men and women around her all have immense backgrounds too, and their cultivation is exceptionally profound."
Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu stood at the fork, listening with keen interest to the chatter and learning about many prominent figures.
Kunjun could well be called an academy city. A great many renowned disciples from major dojos and academies had indeed gathered, all of them influential figures sparking lively discussions.
Today, Shanhe Academy was bursting at the seams with people.
The Fire Spring meandered along, illuminating every corner of the academy. Even the dorm area where Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu stayed—that gloomy forest—was now brilliantly lit.
After wandering in a large loop around the academy, the novelty wore off, and without tickets, the two returned to their quarters. Only to find that there were far too many visitors wandering around; even their area enjoyed no peace and quiet.
"I think we don't need to keep such a low profile. It's time to find a new place to live."
Both Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu felt their current living conditions were somewhat poor. Anyone could wander through, the noise was excessive, and there were insects—though the bugs couldn't get near their bodies, the experience was unpleasant.
In comparison, that picturesque area in the distance where the Fire Spring flowed was far superior. Outsiders were forbidden from entering, making it exceedingly peaceful.
Disciples of the immortal path and esoteric sects mainly resided there, but others could also fight their way in and take their places.
"Let's go!" Both were men of action. Grabbing their packs, they departed, confident they would not fail and would never need to return.
Ahead, waterfalls of Fire Spring cascaded down graceful peaks. In open lakes, colorful dragon carps swam. Mist drifted through bamboo groves, and ancient herbs wafted fragrance across cliff faces veiled in purple qi.
"Exquisite scenery, truly pleasing to the eye!"
Both were very pleased and decided to move in here.
As night deepened, the area grew increasingly tranquil, save for pleasant birdsong from fire-red vines and a few cranes strolling leisurely through distant wetlands.
"Halt, you two." Someone blocked their way, immediately discerning that they were not students living here.
"We're here to pick out a place to stay," Wu Yaozu said.
The person who stopped them was rendered speechless. These two were certainly confident, having brought their luggage along. Still, he didn't make things difficult and had them register.
Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu marveled at how nice this place was. There were houses by the lake and residences built upon spiritual peaks, most of which were occupied by well-known students of Shanhe Academy.
Choosing suitable dwellings, they didn't want to draw too much attention either, so they decided to replace some of this year's new students and move into their residences rather than contest older students.
As it turned out, their timing was terrible, for today was a special occasion.
Almost all the students had gone to watch the battle. Even without tickets, they wanted to soak in the atmosphere outside the venue, discuss the match with others, and learn the outcome at the earliest moment.
"Isn't there still over an hour left? Why are they in such a rush?" Wu Yaozu grumbled.
"Over there, those two lakeside houses still have people," Qin Ming said, looking ahead.
The senior student who had registered them and accompanied them showed an odd look, but it flashed and vanished without being displayed openly.
"Mhm, the people living there are indeed this year's new students, but their strength is formidable."
"No problem. As long as it meets our requirements, nothing else matters," Wu Yaozu said.
A moment later, a crowd poured out of those two houses—about a dozen people in total. Every one of them looked unfriendly, glaring at the two who had rashly come to disturb them.
The senior student accompanying Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu seemed to regret his actions. Cupping his hands in apology, he said, "These two insisted on coming over."
A pretty woman in yellow scolded sharply, "Are you two here as a joke? Are you ignorant, or just stupid? Do you know what kind of place this is, daring to come here to challenge us?!"
Wu Yaozu didn't like the sound of that. "Junior Sister, your words are grating. Little Wu here is displeased. Let me ask just one thing: do this year's new students live here? Right now I only give face to senior sisters and brothers. If it's people from our own class, who am I supposed to fear?!"
The group had originally been angry, but now they all laughed—though their eyes were far from friendly. They spoke up one after another, dripping with mockery and banter.
"Have you two gone crazy trying to get famous? You really won't die unless you go looking for it."
"Brother, did you just come out of the mountains? Do you even know anything about this year's new students at Shanhe Academy, daring to boast so brazenly here?!"
Wu Yaozu's face darkened. "You sure talk a lot. Well, I don't buy into that nonsense. If the masters of these two houses are here, step up and accept the challenge according to the rules! Hurry it up—my brother and I are pressed for time and waiting to move in!"
Instantly, the laughter across from them ceased, and their expressions turned cold once more.
The woman in yellow clenched her fists even tighter, because that included hers next door as well.
The senior student who had guided them wiped his brow, feeling he had been reckless today and should have steered these two hotheads away, but it was too late for regrets.
A youth clad in snow-white robes stepped forward, dignified and imposing. With a faint smile, he said, "It's still early, and we have time to kill anyway. This is a good chance to warm up. Having sparring partners should be something to be happy about."
His black hair flowed like a waterfall. Quite handsome, his eyes shone as bright as stars, composed and confident, as though everything were entirely within his grasp. With hands clasped behind his back, he looked at Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu.
He smiled faintly. "The two of you can come at me together. So long as you can defeat me, these two houses will be yours to live in."
Wu Yaozu said in displeasure, "Brother, don't be too conceited. Talking like that is frankly a bit arrogant. Who in this world dares to face the two of us joined together? Ah, let me stay humble and narrow the scope—I mean among our batch of new students."
The group's expressions practically petrified!
"Where did these reckless fools come from?!"
"Just two nobodies, yet they dare come here looking for trouble! Even I want to step up and slap the two of them away!"
Everyone present was indignant.
Wu Yaozu was speechless. Who was being arrogant here? Hadn't the other side looked down on him and Brother Ming first?
The composed youth in otherworldly white said, "Fine. One at a time is fine, or both of you can besiege me together. The choice is yours."
"Dealing with you doesn't require my brother. I alone am enough!" Wu Yaozu rubbed his hands, then turned his gaze toward the woman in yellow. "By the way, Junior Sister, this involves your place too. If all else fails, you can join hands with him against me."
"Insolent braggart!" The crowd flared with rage.
Wu Yaozu felt aggrieved and disgruntled. Hadn't he just spoken the exact same way they did? Why was he being treated like this? Nothing more to say—time to subdue him!
Chapter 191